Day One | August 12th, 2024

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Canadian government weighs new restrictions on temporary foreign workers program amidst pressure to take action

This week, the Canadian federal government announced that it is considering new regulations that could prevent certain businesses or industries from accessing the?Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program . The announcement comes as the government faces pressure to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers in the country and to ensure that the TFW program is not used to bypass the hiring of Canadian workers. The proposed measures include restricting program eligibility to companies that have been in business for several years and do not have a high turnover rate. The government has also indicated that it may consider excluding entire industries from accessing the program, although it has not yet specified which industries this will affect. Participation in the program has seen a significant increase, with the number of permits nearly doubling from 2019 to 2023.?

Poilievre calls for tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and more to keep in line with the U.S.?

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for Canada to impose a 100% tariff on?Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) . This follows requests from the Aluminium Association of Canada and the Canadian Steel Producers Association for the government to implement a minimum 25% tariff on Chinese imports. Poilievre argues that China heavily subsidizes its steel, aluminum, and EV industries to undermine North American manufacturing jobs, leading many companies to move operations offshore. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has stated that the government is continuing consultations on the issue and is considering all available options. The recent implementation of a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs by the U.S. has led to speculation that a Canadian tariff may soon be announced.?

Labour leaders unite behind NDP candidate Leila Dance in Elmwood-Transcona by-election?

Twelve labor leaders have endorsed Leila Dance, the NDP candidate in the upcoming?Elmwood-Transcona by-election , indicating strong union support for the NDP's bid to retain the seat. Dance has received endorsements from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and Kevin Rebeck, President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. Additionally, Dave McPhail, Business Manager of IBEW 2085, has endorsed Dance, even though Conservative candidate Colin Reynolds is a member of the same union. These endorsements come as the NDP faces a tight race in a riding that has historically been an NDP stronghold, although it was briefly held by the Conservatives from 2011 to 2015. Union support is expected to play a central role in the race.?

Must Read Articles

• ‘It could be a great night for the NDP’: potential byelection wins could trigger end of Lib-NDP agreement, say political players ?
• Meehan no longer running for Conservative candidacy in Ottawa West-Nepean ?
• Ottawa in 'financial crisis' says mayor, blaming federal and provincial governments ?
• NDP calls for an investigation into bot posts about Poilievre rally ?
• Oil and gas industry lobbied Poilievre’s office dozens of times over a year, records show ?
• NEWS? CPKC, CN moving to lock out workers in wake of labour board ruling ?
• Is It Time for Singh to Go?

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Premier Smith navigates tricky terrain with UCP base ahead of leadership review

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is spending her summer?holding private town hall meetings with United Conservative Party (UCP) members across the province . These gatherings, which are closed to the media, come ahead of the party's annual convention in November, where Smith will face a leadership review. At these events, Smith has faced tough questions from party members on issues such as banning COVID-19 vaccines for children, withdrawing Alberta from the Canada Pension Plan, property rights, and even conspiracy theories like?chemtrails . Some activists warn that Smith risks disappointing her base if she doesn't follow through on campaign promises. However, catering too much to conservative party members could alienate moderate voters, especially in Calgary. For now, Smith's top priority is to secure her leadership at the upcoming convention, a crucial step for her to move forward with the UCP.

UCP clarifies stance on immigration and COVID vaccines after controversial podcast comments

The United Conservative Party (UCP) government in Alberta has?distanced itself from recent comments made by Premier Danielle Smith ?and Calgary-Lougheed MLA Eric Bouchard on separate podcasts. In a January interview, Smith suggested aggressively doubling Alberta's population to 10 million by 2050, saying many newcomers would immigrate from Africa, India, and China. However, the premier's office later stated that while many are moving to Alberta for economic reasons, the federal government's "open-border policies" lead to unsustainable population growth that strains housing, infrastructure, health care and education. Meanwhile,?MLA Bouchard faced criticism for remarks on another podcast about removing COVID-19 vaccines . Bouchard claimed he had "lengthy conversations" with Health Minister Adriana LaGrange and that his "win would be the shots are removed." However, LaGrange's office clarified that the government is not considering any changes to COVID-19 vaccine funding or access. Bouchard, known for his controversial anti-vaccine stance, later stated he may not have been clear in the podcast and that he advocates for "choice over mandates." The health ministry clarified that while the government plans to amend Alberta's Bill of Rights to guarantee vaccine choice and outlaw mandatory vaccinations, it will maintain access to COVID-19 vaccines for those who want them.

Alberta doctors sound alarm, urge government to act on health care crisis

The Alberta Medical Association (AMA)?calls for immediate government action to stabilize emergency rooms and family clinics, citing physician burnout and financial struggles, particularly in rural areas . Despite collaborating on stabilization proposals, the AMA claims the government has failed to implement them. Surveys show 81% of Alberta physicians believe the health care system is deteriorating, with up to 750,000 Albertans lacking a regular health care provider. The government acknowledges challenges and is working on a new compensation model, providing $157 million for panel management support and primary care transition funding. However, the AMA president claims the government lacks understanding of the urgency felt by doctors, expecting $400 million in funding for stabilization proposals by September. The province also plans to reorganize the health system this fall with four separate agencies.

Must Read Articles

• Varcoe: Why Alberta's power grid faced a crisis — and what's being done to fix it
• Alberta shuts down long-COVID program
• Ministers to promote Alberta energy in Silicon Valley
• Braid: Premier Smith coddles the UCP's angriest on way to leadership review vote
• Opinion: Alberta must act now to shore up family, rural and acute health care

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N.S. government introduces new regulations for short-term rentals

On September 30, 2024,?new regulations for short-term rentals ?will come into force with the goal of making more long-term housing available. Following the?provincial housing needs assessment report, ?Nova Scotia is expected to have a 41,200-housing unit shortage by 2027-28. The new provincial regulations will affect rentals, such as Airbnb and VRBO, which will now need to register and pay an annual registration fee from $50 to $2,000 per unit. The rate will depend on accommodation type and location, with short-term rentals in Halifax expected to pay the highest rate. The penalty for not registering a short-term rental is subject to fines up to $100,000. Nova Scotia has approximately 7,235 short-term rentals throughout the province. The Minister of Housing, said that these regulations are in line with what other provinces and states are charging and the while the registration fee is lower than what was originally suggested,?the Minister said ?“there's a feeling that we can always go up. We didn't want to backtrack”. Registrations for short-term rental operators open in mid-August. The province is still looking for a private company to ensure operators are compliant. The Request for Proposal is expected to be issued imminently, and the contract awarded by the end of the month. The government also announced the $3.5 million?Community Housing Capital Fund, ?which will help community housing organizations preserve approximately 117 affordable rental units over the next two years and provide an additional financing option through the Community Housing Acquisition Program (CHAP).

Childcare Action Plan lets N.B. subsidize for-profit spaces

The federal government and the province of New Brunswick have signed off on?Action Plan 2023-2026 , with the goal of creating more spaces and lowering the daily cost of childcare to an average of $10 by 2026. The five-year agreement includes $492 million in federal funding and $53 million in provincial funding. The?Agreement gives the Higgs government ?the ability to fund an additional 665 for-profit spaces, with a minimum of 315 being francophone centres. This is a win for the Higgs government. Just last year, the province requested the federal Minister give more leeway to allow for for-profit expansion, which was denied at the time. The change in decision, according to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Jenna Sudds, was due to the province demonstrating a need, and ensuring the designation system for early learning centres includes quality and cost controls. The?Nova Scotia government ?recently requested more leeway from the feds to fund for-profit spaces, which was denied by Minister Sudds. ?

P.E.I signs five-year health care deal to boost recruitment and retention

The government of P.E.I., Health P.E.I., and the Medical Society of P.E.I. have signed a new?five-year Physician Services Agreemen t, through which the government has committed an additional $188.3 million in spending on physician services. The financing is mostly focused on increasing access to primary care, and includes a significant salary increase for primary care physicians, which will see compensation rise by about 35% over the five-year lifespan of the agreement, making Island physicians some of?the best-compensated in the country . Other main measures of the agreement include recognizing family medicine as a specialty, incentivizing family physicians to increase their patient loads, salary increases for all specialties, and measures to reduce red tape and administrative burden for physicians. P.E.I. hopes that the investment will improve recruitment and retention of primary care physicians, as lack of access to doctors continues to be a major?issue ?on the Island. P.E.I. Health Minister Mark McLane appeared alongside the heads of the Medical Society of P.E.I. and Health P.E.I. to announce the new contract, with all three bolstering the agreement as a significant step in improving P.E.I.’s health care system. P.E.I. also addressed their patient registry this week,?removing more than 3,500 names ?from the list of Islanders waiting for a primary care physician; Health P.E.I. says that 745 of those people recently gained access to a care provider, and that they hope to keep reducing the number of names on the list over the next few years.

N.L. Regatta Day sees politicians out in droves

The Royal St. John’s Regatta became a popular campaign spot ?with the Prime Minister making an appearance along with Liberal MP Joanne Thompson, St. John's East CPC nominees, the federal NDP candidate, and provincial representatives from all political stripes. With Newfoundland and Labrador, being a historic Liberal stronghold, CPC candidate David Brazil viewed the Prime Minister’s appearance as strategic, signalling fear amongst the LPC that they may lose seats. NDP candidate Marty Shortall said the Prime Minister’s appearance gave an opportunity for locals to directly address their concerns about the cost of living as people feel the LPC have turned their backs on them. MP Joanne Thompson took the opportunity to highlight the government’s track record citing a fiscally responsible, social platform which is more important than who leads the party. While Trudeau would not speak to media, the provincial Liberals took the opportunity to distance themselves from the federal government as provincial PCs have been labeling the government the “Trudeau-Furey Liberals”. ?

Must Read Articles

• N.S. government orders 3,500 employees back to the office | CBC News
• Business delegation builds trade relationships at Canadian-American conference
• 880 short-term rentals on P.E.I. could be people's homes, says Statistics Canada | CBC News
• Court approves Postmedia bid for insolvent Atlantic newspaper chain
• Halifax looking at ways to restrict future Dartmouth Cove infilling, development
• Major deepwater drilling underway 500 km off Newfoundland

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Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG seek major route change for $6 billion pipeline

The Nisga’a Nation and Western LNG have?requested a major route change for their $6-billion natural gas pipeline , set to begin construction in British Columbia this summer, shifting the endpoint from near Prince Rupert to Gingolx on Nisga’a lands. This adjustment, necessary for their $10-billion Ksi Lisims LNG export terminal project, comes amid rising concerns about the environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions from LNG projects. Despite these concerns, the partners assert that the route change will not significantly affect the project's environmental impact and that they will adhere to?B.C.'s net-zero carbon emissions policy ?through a new 100-kilometer transmission line connected to the provincial power grid.

Pollster reveals B.C. NDP's path to victory may be tougher than expected

The?B.C. Conservative Party has significantly narrowed the gap with the B.C. NDP . In the most recent Research survey, reported at the end of July, the NDP's lead over the Conservatives had?narrowed to just three points , with the NDP at 41 percent and the Conservatives at 38 percent among decided voters. The rise of the Conservatives has led to speculation about their potential to overtake the NDP, especially as B.C. United's relevance diminishes. Pollster Mario Canseco states?that if the race tightens, this could be a pivotal area in deciding the government’s future.

Vancouver Council delays decision on Integrity Commissioner's review

Vancouver's mayor?has postponed a vote on a motion to review the city’s integrity commissioner , which could have led to a temporary suspension of the ethics watchdog's work. The delay, now set for September, was?triggered by an email from Councillor Pete Fry , who had filed a complaint with the commissioner about other councillors, potentially breaching confidentiality. Sim said the delay was needed to address this issue, but Fry argues that the email did not break any rules and claims Sim is using it as a distraction. The postponement has drawn criticism, with some saying it could weaken public trust and oversight. The debate also involves recent complaints about Mayor Sim and his staff, highlighting concerns about the commissioner’s role and the need for a third-party review.

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• B.C. NDP explains why $2B housing affordability program was not about, er, delivering affordable housing
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• B.C. wildfires: Lightning strikes spark eight new fires | Valemount south evacuated

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Ontario launches water infrastructure funding

The Ontario government is providing $970 million for 54 projects across 60 municipalities through the first round of its Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund , aimed at developing and upgrading drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. Due to high demand, an additional $250 million will be available for a second round of funding, bringing the total to $1.2 billion. Notably, $35 million is allocated to expand the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility in the Region of Peel, supporting the creation of nearly 47,000 housing units. The first round also includes $456 million dedicated to 30 projects in small, rural, and northern municipalities without housing targets.

Province and feds collaborate on food safety and agri-business

The Canadian and Ontario governments are funding $5 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership for small businesses in the agriculture and food industry . The funding will help food processors, producers, and service providers enhance their food safety systems, adopt new technologies, and train employees. The initiative aims to boost consumer confidence and business growth by supporting projects that improve food safety, traceability programs, and the adoption of new standards.

Ontario increasing the visibility of locally grown produce

The provincial government is providing up to $1.6 million over four years to help Ontario tender fruit growers purchase display bins branded with the Foodland Ontario logo . These branded bins will increase the visibility of locally grown, in-season tender fruits in grocery stores, making it easier for consumers to identify and choose Ontario-grown produce like peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, apricots, fresh table grapes, and pears.

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• Manitoba, Ontario premiers reflect on Tim Walz as Democrat running mate pick
• OPP respond to 4,800 calls for service in southwestern Ontario over long weekend
• Most Ontario 7-Eleven’s to offer booze for takeout and in-store drinking
• Council concerned about Ontario Land Tribunal as they support 722-unit development

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Toronto and Metrolinx clash over funding for Scarborough Transit Link

The City of Toronto and Ontario’s transit agency, Metrolinx, are in a?dispute ?over funding a crucial connection between two future Scarborough transit lines. The city wants Metrolinx to incorporate a link from the Scarborough subway extension at Kennedy Station to the planned Eglinton East LRT, arguing it would be more cost-effective to build it now. However, Metrolinx insists the city should cover the costs, stating the additional scope is beyond the project’s budget. Mayor Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie are pushing for provincial intervention, warning that delays could escalate costs and disrupt future construction. Transit advocates criticize Metrolinx's stance, calling the connection a "no-brainer" for efficient transit development.

Toronto invests $50 million to upgrade community centres and expand free Wi-Fi

Toronto is set to invest?$50 million ?to revitalize 30 of its most-used community recreation centres by the end of 2025. The "refresh program" will include fresh paint, updated interiors, modern furniture, charging stations, and repairs to aging infrastructure. Seven centres, including Chalkfarm and Port Union, will be completed by the end of 2024, with the rest to follow. Additionally, the city will install free public Wi-Fi and charging stations at 126 community centres this year as part of the ConnectTO program, ensuring reliable internet access for all residents.

Mismanagement leads to Toronto’s Vacant Home Tax overbilling crisis

Toronto’s?vacant home tax rollout ?was marred by significant mismanagement, as revealed by internal emails. The city’s CFO, Stephen Conforti, was only informed of the program’s low response rate two days before the deadline, despite ongoing issues. His last-minute efforts to extend the deadline and increase compliance had limited success, leading to thousands of homeowners being overbilled. Senior staff rejected a key measure to send reminder notices, blaming homeowners instead of acknowledging flaws in the system. The situation caused widespread frustration and undermined public trust in the policy. The city has since admitted mistakes and plans to revise the program to prevent future issues.

Must Read Articles

• Tolling Toronto highways and roads will reduce traffic and increase division
• Toronto council sped up construction work on the Gardiner. Why won’t it do the same for the TTC?
• Toronto community groups urge city to create 10,000 additional youth jobs for 2025
• Toronto condo market stalls as sellers, buyers face off

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Quebec sees strong economic recovery in 2024

After facing challenging quarters,?Quebec’s economy is making a strong comeback , according to a report from Desjardins. The Desjardins Leading Index (DLI) has shown growth for two consecutive months, indicating a widespread economic recovery. The resurgence is driven by several factors, including a significant rebound in household spending, particularly on durable goods like automobiles and appliances. The residential sector has also regained strength, bolstered by rising property sales and renewed construction activities, with further growth expected as interest rates decline. Additionally, the confidence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is improving, signaling a more optimistic economic outlook. This marks the end of the downturn that began in spring 2023, as Quebec enters a new phase of economic expansion.

Pablo Rodriguez secures Caucus backing for PLQ leadership?

During a PLQ (Parti libéral du Québec) youth congress, MNA?Désirée McGraw endorsed Pablo Rodriguez for the party leadership , urging the party to focus on a serious candidate. Rodriguez, currently the federal Transport Minister, has not officially declared his candidacy but is considered a strong potential leader due to his extensive political experience. The race for leadership, which is vital for the party’s recovery, includes other contenders such as Charles Milliard, Denis Coderre, and Frédéric Beauchemin. Charles Milliard recently confirmed his candidacy and is committed to a decade of political engagement, likening his commitment to Fran?ois Legault’s long-term vision for the CAQ. The leadership contest officially starts in January 2025, with the election scheduled for June 2025. McGraw’s support underscores Rodriguez’s achievements and readiness for a prominent role, drawing parallels to past successful leaders like Jean Lesage.

Hydro-Québec sells EV fleet management subsidiary Cléo to Polara

Hydro-Québec has sold its subsidiary?Cléo, a company specializing in commercial electric vehicle (EV) fleet management , to Quebec-based Polara, which focuses on vehicle fleet electrification. The transaction is expected to accelerate the transition to greener transportation and foster innovation. Cléo, founded by Hydro-Québec in 2020, offers real-time monitoring of EV charging. The sale ensures Cléo's continuity as a Quebec business while allowing Hydro-Québec to concentrate on its core activities, including the Electric Circuit, its public EV charging network. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Hydro-Québec's executive Maxime Aucoin praised Cléo’s achievements and its potential for broader market reach under Polara.

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• Montreal’s Pesticide Ban: A Dozen Retailers Fined for Selling Banned Pesticides